Thomas H. McDonald
Agency patch
Game Warden

Thomas H. McDonald

Felonious
End of Watch September 4, 1937
Age 56
Tour of Duty 11 mo
The Vigil Panel 73 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Michigan Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed

Game Warden Thomas McDonald was shot and killed by a poacher in a wooded area of Benton County approximately six to eight miles north of Ashland.

He had encountered a man poaching squirrels when he was shot in the back. Despite his wounds, he was able to return fire and fatally shot the man. Their bodies were found approximately 300 yards apart later in the day by another hunter. The subject who shot him had previously been an inmate of the state insane asylum.

Game Warden McDonald had served as a state game warden for only 11 months and was assigned to Benton County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-1EF76082
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Game Warden McDonald served with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden McDonald.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Jackson, MS
Platform Identity mdwfpcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 4, 1937
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Game Warden Thomas H. McDonald is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, 6 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.5% of this agency's fallen.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
6
of 11 officers
54.5% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas H. McDonald's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Thomas H. McDonald Compares

Age at Death
56
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas H. McDonald is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas H. McDonald was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location